Patent US3597943A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3597943A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sterilized laundry system
Assignee: GA Braun Inc
•
Filing: 1969-06-17
•
Granted: 1971-08-10
•
Expires: 1989-06-17
Abstract
Abstract A sterilized laundry system utilizes a washing machine sealingly mounted in a common wall of a soiled area and a sterilized area and includes first and second door means respectively providing access from the soiled and the sterilized areas into an interior of a washing drum horizontally disposed within the washing machine, releasable locking means normally maintaining the pair of doors in a locked position and control means selectively releasing the locking means only to permit opening the doors in a manner to prevent cross infection between the separate rooms. The sterilized area is maintained at a constant positive pressure relative to the soiled laundry area and other areas ambient the sterilized room, thereby preventing flow of contaminated air into the sterilized area.
Inventors
- 👤 Wallace F Gayring
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 11:49
CPC Classifications
D; D06; D06F; D06F95/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
140 words
A laundry system for preventing cross infection between soiled laundry material and sterilized laundry material comprising: a washing machine having an interior chamber for receiving laundry material, first selectively lockable door means providing access into the interior chamber from a soiled laundry area and a second selectively lockable door means providing access into the interior chaMber for a second room area for receiving sterilized laundry material; first and second selectively releasable means respectively locking said first and said second door means in closed positions; means preventing release of said first locking means whenever said second door means is open; and means preventing release of said second locking means whenever said first door means is open and until said laundry material contained within the interior chamber has been subjected to sterilizing temperatures for a sufficient time period to assure proper sterilization.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
140 words
A laundry system for preventing cross infection between soiled laundry material and sterilized laundry material comprising: a washing machine having an interior chamber for receiving laundry material, first selectively lockable door means providing access into the interior chamber from a soiled laundry area and a second selectively lockable door means providing access into the interior chaMber for a second room area for receiving sterilized laundry material; first and second selectively releasable means respectively locking said first and said second door means in closed positions; means preventing release of said first locking means whenever said second door means is open; and means preventing release of said second locking means whenever said first door means is open and until said laundry material contained within the interior chamber has been subjected to sterilizing temperatures for a sufficient time period to assure proper sterilization.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The laundry system of claim 1 and further characterized by means preventing release of said second locking means until said machine completes a full washing cycle between releases thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
A laundry system as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by air distribution means forcing sterilized air into said second room area for maintaining said second room area at a positive pressure relative to said first room area.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
A laundry system as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by duct means directing sterilized air under pressure into the interior chamber for maintaining the same at a positive pressure relative to said first room area.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A laundry system as defined in claim 3 and further characterized by means preventing release of said second locking means unless said air distribution means is properly functioning.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
88 words
In a laundry system including a washing machine having first and second normally locked door means, a control circuit comprising: first electrically actuated means for unlocking a first normally locked door means; a second electrically actuated means for unlocking a second normally locked door means; normally open, temperature-sensitive switch means disposed within an interior of a washing machine and closing in response to sensing sterilizing temperatures; and first normally open contact means connected in series with said first unlocking means and closing whenever said temperature-sensitive switch means closes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
88 words
In a laundry system including a washing machine having first and second normally locked door means, a control circuit comprising: first electrically actuated means for unlocking a first normally locked door means; a second electrically actuated means for unlocking a second normally locked door means; normally open, temperature-sensitive switch means disposed within an interior of a washing machine and closing in response to sensing sterilizing temperatures; and first normally open contact means connected in series with said first unlocking means and closing whenever said temperature-sensitive switch means closes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
In a laundry system as defined in claim 6 and further characterized by second normally open contact means connected in series with said first unlocking means and closing in response to completion of a washing machine cycle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
In a laundry system as defined in claim 7 and further characterized by normally closed contact means connected in series with said second unlocking means and opening whenever said temperature sensitive switch means closes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
In a laundry system as defined in claim 8 and further characterized by reset switch means for opening said first and said second normally open contact means and closing said normally closed contact means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
89 words
In a laundry system including a washing machine having first and second normally locked door means, a control circuit comprising: first electrically actuated means for unlocking a first normally locked door means; a second electrically actuated means for unlocking a second normally locked door means; temperature sensitive switch means disposed within an interior of a washing machine and being actuated in response to sensing sterilizing temperatures; and first circuit means electrically connected with said first unlocking means and permitting actuation thereof whenever said temperature-sensitive switch means has been actuated.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
89 words
In a laundry system including a washing machine having first and second normally locked door means, a control circuit comprising: first electrically actuated means for unlocking a first normally locked door means; a second electrically actuated means for unlocking a second normally locked door means; temperature sensitive switch means disposed within an interior of a washing machine and being actuated in response to sensing sterilizing temperatures; and first circuit means electrically connected with said first unlocking means and permitting actuation thereof whenever said temperature-sensitive switch means has been actuated.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
51 words
A laundry system as defined in claim 1, wherein said means preventing release of said second locking means comprise temperature-sensitive means disposed in an interior chamber of a washing machine and permitting release of said second locking means only upon said temperature sensitive means sensing sterilizing temperatures within the interior chamber.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3318122A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-08-09 | 1975-02-08 | 1975-08-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-09 | 1979-02-08 | 1979-08-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-09 | 1983-02-08 | 1983-08-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |